Out and About

[max]

Maxwell Parker walked down the streets of CA, downtown scene, walnut scarf wrapped around her face and the rest of her body carressed by a tight sleeved black dress. It was thin, the material would have the immediate feel of a nylon stocking if you touched it, the sleeves led to little ruffled cufflinks made out of cotton and the dress stopped nearly at her thigh-line. It was early, about eight-thirty in the morning, but since it was Saturday there was nothing to worry about being late for. Max wore a plain dress, a scarf because of the morning breeze, and flat-heeled black shoes that looked like tiny little ballerina slippers in a different color. And what exactly was she out so early for?

To pick up some things for Xiang, the little lady she mended back at the motel where Max Parker confirmed her living. A few years back when Max's mother first put her to stay in Cali in some stupid large penthouse, Max was out buying ice cream on a sunday afternoon when a middle-aged lady was passing by. She wore a fur-coat and hat, a scarf and some ruined shoes, she didn't look like she had much at all. The woman was crying, sturggling to wipe her tears with a dirty hankercheif, with a small bundle in her left arm. It was, to Max's surprise, a baby. Max offered to hold the child for the woman so she could go run to the store down the street to pick up some more tissues, the woman eagerly gave Max the child but there was a catch. -- she never returned to take the baby back, Max guessed she took her savings and then a one-way trip to Hawaii was on her calender. Since then, Max's been secretly caring for the baby girl, not telling anyone about her, or at least not her mother, no one else has asked or met Max.

Anyhow, there she was, simple clothing. She had trashed most the designer clothing and prada her mother had bought and sent to her, and she hardly wore the jewelry she had, so Max didn't exactly look like a beauty queen. She was just going shopping anyway and didn't have to look like one, no make-up was added to her facial features or anywhere else, she walked down the concrete sidewalk and spotted a little dollar store. These shops usually held the things that children fantasize on having, keychains, toys, bubble-blowers and other things. Max thought it wouldn't hurt to take a look at the items the store was selling, afterall, it didn't hurt to be out and about.

[Sean Timson]

Sean was out shopping for neccesities for himself. His father had made a seperate bank accout for the boy so that he could afford to survive while no working adult was there to take care of him. His father was off on some mission for the next few months, and Sean still needed to eat. Sean was in his biking gear: Red mirrored sunglasses, a red cotton t-shirt, khaki shorts, his black leather boots, and his backpack to help carry everything back. Sean raced throught the streets, weaving between cars stuck in the stop-lights and hopping easily up onto curbs and waving to street vendors, dispite their less than warm responces.

Sean came around a sharp corner only to see a pretty, but plain looking girl in front of him. "Look out!" Sean yelled as he attempted to swerve, too hard, and sent his bike slideing out from under him and himself tumbleing a few feet across the sidewalk. At least I didn't hit her Sean consoled himself as he regained his feet. "Sorry about that, are you ok?" Scrapes and bruises were nothing Sean wasn't used to, and he was in truth more concerned about her than a litte hemotoma.

[max]

"Look out!"

It took Max off-guard when someone shouted that out, she shifted her eyes to what laid before her, some kid approaching on his bike, she got scared but didn't move. The guy flew off his bike and it slid down the sidewalk toward Max, and then she didn't see what happened to the driver, but had to jump over the bike as if it were a skip-rope to avoid getting hit. She had landed on her backside and elbows, curving her legs so her skirt wouldn't reveal anything underneath her dress, Max sat up on her hands and then regained composure, standing up steadily and brushing back a strand of hair.

"Sorry about that, are you ok?"
Asked the one who was actually operating the bicycle, Max was ... alright. She wasn't in the best condition, she wasn't used to falling down, it hurt her weak bones. Her very weak bones, she didn't fall down on a regular basis so there was a small shockwave screaming through her arms and thighs but she would get over it eventually, hopefully. Taking in a few breaths before replying, Max nodded at the kid and smiled, she didn't recognize him too well but she had the feeling she had seen him before somewhere. "Yesh, I'm okay...watch where your going nexttime, please! That was...exciting..." Max was breathing at the same time she was talking, inhaling as she spoke and exhaling after each word, with her left hand she rubbed her right elbow which was still slightly aching. "I've seen him before...just can't get the picture straight." She thought to herself.

[Sean Timson]

Sean smiled sheepishly, apollogizing, "I'll try to remember next time, don't think too far ahead some times." A concerned frown formed on his face when he saw her rubbing her joints. He held his hand out to the girl, offering to help the pretty girl back too her feet. Does she just not want to complain? She seems to be a little more shaken up than she's letting on, Sean determined, but choose not to pry into the issue. It was not his place to decide what she was willing to endure.

"Can I make it up to you, somehow?" Sean sudgested, a bit worried, though unwilling to say as much as to not offend the girl by implying she was weak.

[max]

OoC: Eh, I already made Max stand up in my post ^_^

"I'll try to remember next time, don't think too far ahead some times."

Max smiled, nodding. "Usually when I see people biking they bike on the other side of the sidewalk, so...I'm not very used to ... bicycles flying at me and sweeping me off my feet." She explained, Max felt as if she might've gotten a scrape on her elbow beneath her dress, though the sleeve wasn't torn. It felt like she had a cut there, but she ceased rubbing when she noticed the kid looking at her elbow. Max moved her arms over her chest, crossing them together and her hands pressed against the sides of her shoulders keeping some body heat even though it wasn't that cold.

"Can I make it up to you, somehow?"
Max's jade gaze rested on the boy, she recalled alot of people asking women that in Hollywood movies and so on, she never expected anyone to say that to her. He accidently flew off his bike and sent it bulleting at her feet, so what was there to make up for if it wasn't an intentioned act? Max found the question quite awkward, but replied,

"No thanks. I'm just doing some shopping anyway -- for myself! ... maybe," Max didn't want anyone to know that her, a sixteen-year-old lady, was caring and nuturing for a baby. It'd probably scare people! "What are ... what are you doing out so early? Morning bike ride or something, maybe?" She thought maybe if she reminded him of his bike ride or whatever he was doing, he'd probably leave her alone and she'd be able to pick up a few teddy bears and tea-cups for Xiang without looking like a lunatic.

[Sean Timson]

OOC: Ack, sorry, missed it.

She's nervous about something, Sean realized, though it was difficult to tell what. He subtly scanned the area for a possible threat to the girl like a jealous boyfriend or something. Sean walked over to his bike and picked it up, chaining it to a nearby bench "I was just going to get some groceries myself, and the police seem to have issues with kids driving," Sean joked over his shoulder, his smile returned in an attempt to help her relax. A quick once over of the bike revealed no signifigant damage other than a few additions to the dozens of other scratches. Sean tapped each of the tires with a booted foot to make sure neither had gone flat.

Turning back to Max, Sean sudgested, "I could help you carry it home. I'll let you keep my bike as collateral." Sean didn't want to loose this chance to get to know this girl to something as simple as her shyness, though his concern for her hadn't yet faded. "I promis I'll tell everyone you defended your honor," Sean said dramaticly with his right hand over his heart and his left in the air as if being sworn in under oath, then winking to Max playfuly.

[max]

Max smiled at the kid, but she really didn't want him tagging behind her all day. She didn't even know his name! Blinking nervously, she felt a sudden pounce in her forearm, her joints were really starting to become a pain but she didn't show it. She just wanted to do some shopping for Xiang, go home, take a bath or something even though the motel didn't offer the cleanest bath tubs without the hassle or the embarresment of people seeing her baby-wash and kid toys.

"I promis I'll tell everyone you defended your honor,"

Max observed the guy lift up his right hand 'n all and his left hand was positioned on his chest, she couldn't help herself from giggling at this sight, and shook her head in rejection. "That's nice of you, but honestly, I can handle myself. I really don't need your bike or anything else, I'm just going to be shopping, y'know? -- and I'm not exactly buying grocceries, I'm like ... shopping for ... material possessions! So we might not even be going to the same departments right?" "Might as well give up, Max. He's not going nowhere it seems..." Max mentally sighed.

[Sean Timson]

"Material possessions are the second best kind of possessions!" Sean spoke enthusiasticly, ready to go whichever store. However, when Sean looked around, he noticed that she seemed to be headed to the dollar store when Sean had to ditch. Material possessions? who goes shopping for jewelry and stuff at the dollar store? Sean figured she was hiding something, and when he looked a little closer, he noticed another discrepency in the girl's story, She's not wearing make-up, so she's probably not one of the needy, high-maintainance types. This girl was not what she was trying to make herself out to be, but given what she was making herself out to be, Sean couldn't help from becoming more interested.

Sean's smile softened a little, "Don't worry, I don't bite." Sean wanted to reasure the girl that he meant no harm, though she still seemed unwilling to accept that. "I'm Sean," he said, hopefuly she would give him hers.

[max]

"Material possessions are the second best kind of possessions!"

Max nodded, smiling at the same time, "Yes, I agree." She said, clearing her throat. This conversation seemed awkward, she still didn't know his name and he didn't know her's, or at least that was her assumtion. Max felt nervous if he was going to accompany her on her little shopping trip for Xiang, she was really looking forward for getting some things for the five-year-old, and she knew Xiang was eager for presents at all times too. Max bit her lower lip waiting for him to continue talking.

"Don't worry, I don't bite."
Was the next thing he said, Max thought it was a joke so she just giggled, "As if that'd matter...I just want to shop, alone, guy!" She thought to herself, "The least you could do is give me your name though!" She had a mental sigh. "I'm Sean,"
"Oh...yeah. Nice to meet you, Sean," He had given her his name but that didn't mean she felt so comfortable about it being a swap, name-for-name, not if that would encourage him to hang around her. "...are you like ... really looking forward to shopping with me or something? If not I want to hurry, right? Best to be early..." Max tried one more time, to be sure, to make him go away but if not then...long day.

[Sean Timson]

"I wont lie, you are a very charming girl, dispite your attempts to the contrary, and I would enjoy nothing more than your company, if only for a moment longer." No name yet.... Shot down again, Sean? he wondered. If this didn't at least get a name out of her, Sean was about ready to give up. If she realy didn't want him around, he would let her be. Sean hoped she wouldn't blow him off, but at this point, it was looking pretty bleak.

If she's embarressed about buying tampons or something, I'm going to be just a little irritated at you guys, Sean silently prayed to his gods. He didn't doubt for a moment that they were all laughing at him right now for making such a fool of himself, but these choices were his to make, not theirs.

[max]

"I wont lie, you are a very charming girl, dispite your attempts to the contrary, and I would enjoy nothing more than your company, if only for a moment longer."

... "Yuck!" Max immediatley thought, "So this guy likes me? Is that why he's sticking around? ... eyuck .." Personally Max didn't know if she was ready to hang around a guy who possibly had a crush on her, and besides, if he was interested in her he might've as well took his bicycle, said sorry, and gone about with whatever he was doing and try and meet her in a more formal way some other time because clearly ... trying to hook up with a girl after you throw her off her feet with your stupid bike, that was a mistake well made! Especially in Max's eyes, but she wasn't mean enough to tell him up front that she didn't want his company, Max always figured out a polite way of making people -- get the picture. She was flattered that someone had the guts to tell her that, especially in such an awkward situation, but no blush, just a smile.

"Mmhmm. Yea, -- you should work on your pick-up lines sort of, but back to the matter, -- I really would ... um ... like to go shopping with you sometime, Sean, honestly I would. Just, today I'm looking for some other merchandise that y'know, might make you --" Max couldn't choose which to say between throw up or roll on the floor laughing, she took a breath and sighed, "Okay, okay, y'know what -- if you so really want to shop -- with a girl you don't even know the name of, -- then you could, fine! Whatever! Just under one condition...!" "Like wear a blind-fold." Max giggled in her head.

[Sean Timson]

Sean's hopes sank at first at her responce, but just as they seemed to disappear... "Okay, okay, y'know what -- if you so really want to shop -- with a girl you don't even know the name of, -- then you could, fine! Whatever! Just under one condition...!" the girl finaly gave into his, albeit meager, charms. Sean's expression perked up noticably as he got the sense that he had jammed his foot in opertunity's door right as it was about to slam shut. She assumes I'm judgemental of what she's going to buy, and she's very self-conscious. It will be interesting showing her how to not give a damn! Sean pondered a little.

"Sure," Sean said, accepting the condition before he even knew what it was. "Besides, I don't see any places to buy books for human sacrifice or anything, so it cant be that bad," Sean joked to downplay how disturbed he may be by what she was shopping for. Sean wasn't one to judge people for their hobbies so long as they didn't hurt others, and this girl certainly didn't seem like the sadistic type.

[max]

"I am such am idiot!" Max thought to herself, moaning over the fact that she gave into Sean's constant pleads. What does a girl gotta do to be alone? She wondered. After Sean accepted to only go under the single condition Max mentioned, he added,

"Besides, I don't see any places to buy books for human sacrifice or anything, so it cant be that bad,"

Max smiled, it was near-funny but he was pulling her leg a bit too hard and she was about to lose it! She didn't feel like being laughed at today at all, "Believe me, it'll be worse then bad." She commented, "Now, you're only going to come with me under one condition -- uh, uh, uh, uh! Since you already said okay to it and agreed to the terms, this is what you have to do!" "A lot of baaaad things, dear Sean, did you step into the wrong mousetrap today!" Max snickered to herself as she continued, "Hmm, actually, y'know what? Let's go the mall!" Max was starting to lighten up, thinking of her genius plan she had in mind. She never openly spent more then five hundred dollars when she went shopping, not wanting people to think she actually was a rich, incompetent sissy like some people might've thought she was if they looked at her bank account, but today she had something wicked in mind. "Take your bike if you want."

She said, turning around and starting to walk ahead, the mall was only a few blocks away in the downtown district.

[Sean Timson]

Eh, this just got a bit more interesting, and I still don't know the condition. Oh well, you took your throw of the dice, no reason in backing out now, Sean wondered what the girl was up to and walked quickly to catch up, slowing to her pace as he reached her side. Sean decided to leave the bike atatched to the bench. He didn't want the bike seem more important than the girl.

"So, you gonna give me a name, or am I just going to have to call you 'beutiful' for the duration of our date?" Sean knew this would probably rile her up some, but maybe she would forget her inhibitions if he did. Then again, it might also get him a swift kick. Another roll of the dice.

[max]

"So, you gonna give me a name, or am I just going to have to call you 'beutiful' for the duration of our date?"

Max heard Sean ask, she laughed loudly in her head at this. "He thinks this is a date? Sheesh, men think too highly of themselves. Tsk, tsk." She thought to herself, Max didn't exactly do dates, not a lot of guys were appealing to her to make her throw her phone number and name at and a time and place to meet her so she didn't really go on dates with anyone. Maybe she would in her high-school years, but Sean was out of the question at the moment, so she found this as a rather funny comment though her original friendly smile stayed pasted to her face through-out her little mental giggles as she then turned her head over her shoulder to get a glance at Sean.

She saw he hadn't brought his bike along, and was thankful for that too because she didn't want everyone to see somebody dragging a bike along behind her, Max took her time to reply. "No, I don't think my name's appropiate," She explained. "Though if you call me beautiful I'll have to pull out your vocal cords." She said, it meant to be a joke but Max spoke in a usual tone, she liked to laugh but to be taken seriously could be cool too, sometimes. Turning back to what was ahead of her, Max twisted her fingers around each other by her sides to kill time as they walked, she wondered how it felt to be like all those bad-killing machine girls in the movies. Y'know, hardcore and aggressive, naughty, Max wondered how the world would evolve around her if she acted like her complete opposite. "Let's try that, shall we?"

"The mall's close."